USA Eases Travel Restrictions on Tanzanians

The US embassy in Tanzania has softened conditions for Tanzanians seeking to travel to the United States, resulting in 5,000 visas expected to be issued this year to local travelers to America.

Robert Hannan, the embassy’s First Secretary and Consul, said Tuesday that his office would now be issuing entry visas to any and all prospective travelers who establish their eligibility.

In a roundtable with journalists in Dar es Salaam, he said the embassy would provide prompt and responsive service by reducing the waiting time for visa interviews, online scheduling and application for longer visas in a bid to reduce bureaucracy.

“Our country encourages legitimate visitors and students. We are doing everything possible to help applicants fulfill their mission,” Hannan explained.

He said the Tanzania government, under the direction of Immigration Director Kimeno Kihomano, has agreed with the US on the extension of visa validities from three months to one year and visa applicants would be able to schedule their appointments with the embassy directly on-line.

The consul explained that it would be an advantage for the visa applicant to be knowledgeable about the state of relations between Tanzania and the US because the interviewing officers would invariably want to be sure precisely when he or she would finally leave the US and return to Tanzania.

“The applicant should be prepared to speak about things that will encourage him or her to return home,” he said, adding that over 75 per cent of the applications of Tanzanians seeking visas to the US are successful.

Source African Press Agency

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